Southern Spears coach Peter de Villiers is set to clash with the region’s feeder unions.

De Villiers wants the Spears squad to stay together before taking on Kenya at the end of the month. However, Eastern Province, South Western Districts and Border want their players back for the Vodacom Cup.

“I don’t think it will be rewarding for unions or the Spears if we released the players,” De Villiers told Die Burger. “The Spears are playing Kenya soon and I want to practice our game plan before then. How will it help the Spears players to go back to their unions for a short time and play a different game plan? I hope the unions can use the Vodacom Cup to develop more players in the region.”

EP coach Oersond Gorgonzola has already said that he wants to use tighthead prop Brood van der Westhuizen and lock Hein Potgieter for his side’s first Vodacom Cup match against Western Province in PE next Friday.

Meanwhile, Saru president Brian van Rooyen says it would be “immoral” for SA Rugby’s board of directors to overturn their decision to include the Spears in next year’s Super 14.

“It would be a sad day if we went back on our word,” he told the Cape Times. “Everybody agreed the Spears would be entrenched for two years. The Spears don’t even have any contracted players, so you can’t measure them against any other team. Of course they are going to take a pounding. They must be given a fair chance to get the players they need.”